North Africa

Libya: ISIS tightens grip on Sirte

ISIS forces are in control of most of Moammar Qaddafi's hometown of Sirte, sucessfully repulsing an effort to retake the town by forces aligned with the Libya Dawn coalition.

Iraq

ISIS franchise: Nigeria to Yemen to Pakistan

Over the past two months, the ISIS international franchise has made gains from West Africa to the Indian subcontinent, with militants in several countries proclaiming for the "caliphate."

North Africa

Libya: Coptic Christians abducted by ISIS?

Presumed ISIS adherents in Libya have released photos on social media purporting to show some 20 abducted Coptic Christians, saying they await execution.

Planet Watch

Behind oil slump: shale boom or geopolitics?

Experts tell us the North American shale oil boom is responsible for low prices despite Middle East unrest. But the price slump serves Western aims of weakening Russia and Iran.

North Africa

Africa Command: ISIS in Libya

Gen. David Rodriguez, head of US Africa Command, said that ISIS has set up training camps in eastern Libya, and that the Pentagon is closely monitoring the situation.

North Africa

Egypt bombs Libya —again?

Amid fierece fighting in Benghazi, AP cites unnamed "officials" as saying Egyptian warplanes have bombed Islamist positions in the eastern Libyan city.

North Africa

Libya: Sufis under attack —again

With Islamist-led militia in nearly complete control of the Libyan capital, the historic Othman Pasha Madrassa in Tripoli's Old City was vandalized by a crowd of gunmen.

North Africa

AQIM renegades pledge fealty to ISIS

A new armed group calling itself the "Soldiers of the Caliphate in Algeria" has split from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and sworn loyalty to ISIS.